Obituary of Ronald E. Peters
Technology Consultant / Entrepreneur
Ron was a devoted husband and father. His wife of 65 years, Shirley (Reninger) Peters, who pre-deceased him, was the love of his life. They grew up in the small town of Bradford, PA, and struck out together seeking the American dream. They eventually moved to the “big city” of Buffalo where they worked and raised a family. Ron and Shirley were seldom seen apart; they were best friends, teammates and often business partners throughout their lives. When business separated them, Ron traveled back home each night whenever possible. Later in life, Ron became his wife’s primary care-giver for many years assuring she would remain at home as long as possible.
Ron had a unique blend of analytic and people skills and an empathetic understanding of people and their character not often found in those with analytical personalities. His sense of humor was a personal and professional strength. He had a dry wit and sense of humor and was infamous for his observations of human behavior, finding irony and wit in unusual situations and delivering concise, creative commentary and one-liners. He was also a great listener and appreciated stories told by others as he was not likely to seek being the center of attention.
Ron started his career in the accounting profession and quickly transitioned to the nascent field of Computer Science as the industry launched. His career in Information Technology included work at Bell Aerospace, Marks-Baer/Computer Task Group and Professional Support Incorporated (PSI) which he co-founded in 1980. Ron was a lifelong learner and “fixer” and was happiest in life while mentoring and helping others. He was a pioneer in the technology industry and early in his career he led a team that invented an early version of a software program generator, clearly several decades ahead of the technology curve. His workstyle was eccentric evidenced by his habit of roaming the office in his stocking feet and being the proud owner of the messiest desk imaginable piled 2-3 feet high with memos, pads of notes and ideas, file folders and books. Amazingly, he could reach into the chronologically layered piles and successfully retrieve the relevant piece of information he sought. A hole in his sock while shoeless at work? No problem; a black marker strategically applied to his foot would disguise the hole.
Ron was an early adopter of technology and one of the first to embrace the satellite and solar collector industries installing a satellite dish and rooftop solar collector system in the mid ‘70’s. (A dispute based on principle over a $5.00 balance on his cable bill helped accelerate his rate of satellite dish adoption.) He was considered a thoughtful, rational thinker who could easily comprehend either side of an issue. A logical, well presented opinion would usually receive his approval, even when he disagreed, if he respected the thought process. He had an insatiable curiosity and was always thinking of new approaches and methodologies to improve the world around him. He readily acknowledged that not all his suggestions were received with the same enthusiasm as rendered. “I have lots of new ideas” he would often say, pausing to finish his sentence with “and once in a while even a good one”.
Ron had a deep love, appreciation and understanding of animals, he was able to tame even the most belligerent and combative pet birds and cats. He loved the challenge and took-in several “last-chance” pets throughout his life developing a reputation for successfully domesticating unmanageable pets. No adversarial, feral “biter” could best him.
Ron was a great, lifelong Buffalo Bills fan, respecting and never blaming Jack Kemp for his sprints to the sidelines to avoid much larger, more menacing defensive lineman. Though never participating in organized sports himself, he was an adventuresome and daring Alpine skier taking up the sport in his 40’s. Ron held season passes for the family to Glenwood Acres for many years and was a high school ski club chaperone in order to ski as a family as much as possible. On Sunday mornings he and his children were “Milk Run” regulars, getting in as many runs as possible before the late morning lift-lines formed. All who skied with him were in awe of his enthusiasm, daring and his spectacular wipe-outs which he miraculously emerged from unscathed and unbowed. In his mid-60’s, Ron continued his quest for speed, taking up roller skating several evenings per week traveling to different roller rinks around the area for their adult skate sessions. His skating career was cut short one evening after a particularly debilitating fall breaking several bones while attempting to avoid “squishing” two younger, smaller skaters. A short time later he took up a the slightly less dangerous physical regimen of mall walking where he walked daily at 7:00 AM followed by coffee with several dozen close friends.
Ron was a 30-year member of the Main Transit Volunteer Fire Department joining soon after moving to Williamsville in 1961. He theorized some personal rapport and friendships would be fun providing a social network and also providing a faster response in any emergency situation. He also regularly attended and participated in the Amherst Town Board meetings for many years volunteering to analyze town operations and rendering common-man, taxpayer input for whomever would listen, both in the audience and at-home watching on cable. Later in life he developed an acute interest in the US K-12 Education system and applied his thoughts and ideas to improving classroom teaching and administrative approaches.
Ron was a resident of Canterbury Woods in Williamsville since 2015 where he passed away peacefully assisted by several wonderful and loving private aides and the caring Canterbury Woods nursing and caregiver staff. He is survived by his children, Gale (Mary Christine) Peters, Rona (Neil) Guiliano, Michael (Robin) Peters and Lisa (Dave) Epke; 15 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions can be made to:
Devin’s Message
www.devinsmessage.org
Devin’s Foundation is a 501(C)(3) Charitable Foundation Established in 2017 TO BUILD SELF-ESTEEM, CREATE AWARENESS OF BULLYING AND PROTECT CHILDREN
